Aurora’s Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board will celebrate its annual Diwali Festival from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Waubonsie Valley High School, 2590 Ogden Ave.

Diwali is India’s largest annual festival. Celebrated by people throughout India, Nepal and other South Asian countries, the festival marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year.

Attended by more than 4,000 people last year, Aurora’s Diwali festival will feature the diversity of India’s music, dance, clothing and cuisine — while also highlighting the contributions of Indian Americans locally and nationally.

Waubonsie Valley High School’s Cloud 9 singing group will perform the National Anthem. Bollywood-style dance groups and special presentations will entertain the crowd throughout the evening. Visitors can purchase food, clothing and jewelry.

The festival will conclude with an outdoor fireworks display beginning at 8:45 p.m.

The celebration is free and open to the public.

About Diwali 2017

Diwali in 2017 will start on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, and willcontinue for five days until Sunday, Oct. 22.

Diwali (also called Lakshmi Puja, Laxmi Puja and Diwali Puja) is the Hindu festival of lights. It is celebrated in late Ashwin (September–October) and ends in early Kartika (October–November).

The main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika in Bikram Sambat calendar.

Diwali Puja symbolizes the victory of good over evil. The lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope. Diwali is one of the most popular holidays in Hindu countries.